Social media and small scale direct action

[mcfuzz]

I have a proposal for a new use of social media within a new process of promoting smaller scale direct action. We should publicize small scale direct actions during the planning stages.

A lot of people do not want to take the horse, or anything else with the potential for mass arrests, for a minimum of 2 weeks.

 

Instead, people have lots of ideas for other kinds of direct actions like protesting at the mayor's house, mayor's office, flash mobs, theatrical protests, etc etc. I believe it is in our best interest now to promote as many smaller actions as possible. Each of these smaller actions essentially require their own ad hoc planning committee which is also the main group to carry out the actions.

 

To help individuals with ideas for action to make those actions a reality, I propose the following process for approval and implementation:

1. An action is thought of, and discussed with others.

2. If it has traction, the core concept should be stated briefly and given a temp check from either the DA committee, outreach committee, or the GA.

3. If it is an action we want to support, social media immediately publicizes it still during the planning phase. Messages go out on all channels listing a brief description of the action and contact info for whoever is spearheading it.

4. Ad hoc committees form and plan the event, and can bring a finished proposal back to the GA for a final vote (if necessary).

5. Do the action.

6. Social media reports on the action.

 

Let's get a process that makes it as easy as possible for people to get their ideas off the ground in various locations around Chicago without needing to spend hours on the ground at our base. Small actions are not tied to our base in the same way as large marches and we should facilitate people planning over the internet via social media.

 

It's advertisement and organization and transparency all in one.

A lot of people who aren't at a GA would probably like the idea of delivering a personal letter of  grievances to Ramh's house in a silent protest, or whatever else. Actions that aren't centralized in our location, and don't require our full numbers, are often actions more likely to be participated in by people not at the GAs. This will be how we include those decentralized bases.

THIS IS OUR STRENGTH! By not having our own Zucotti park, we are more broadly based, and the lines between who is and isn't part of the movement are always blurring and expanding. We can do lots of small events, as many as we can think of, and publish the results again through social media to fuel the movement as a whole.

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

Beautiful idea. Empower people to express themselves respecting their abilities. Celebrate their initiative collectively. This has endless possibilities to broaden the movement and build bridges.